Tribute to Franco Columbu: powerlifter as well as bodybuilder

Franco Columbu never got the proper and full appreciation or the credit for his training and impressive achievements. He was overshadowed by Arnold Schwarzenegger for much of his bodybuilding career. But, Franco was also an accomplished strength and conditioning athlete. Pound for pound he was one of the strongest men in the world – this is no exaggeration. With a body weight of 180 pounds, he could bench press 500 pounds. He was able to squat and also dead lift several hundred pounds. In one of his books, there is a classic photo of him deadlifting a bar with so many plates on each end that the bar is bowing or bending (see below). He also claimed to have done the strength training and the body building without the use of anabolic steroids. I would like to believe that and considering how rigorous and intense his training regimens were, he may be telling the truth. Lots of male hormone either way!

This photo (above) of Franco deadlifting is courtesy of rawfit.co.uk. Note the reverse grip of his two hands. That is the only way to control the heavy bar in a deadlift and prevent it from slipping from your hands.

In this higher quality pic below, he completes the deadlift successfully. Pic is courtesy of strongandfit.net.

Yet another excruciating deadlift by this very strong and determined man. Courtesy of myweightliftingprograms.com.

Here (below) is the result of persistent and continued heavy deadlifting and bent over rowing with the bar over time. Franco lat spread is by kind courtesy of forum.bodybuilding.com. Full development of the large muscles in the back.